South Korea Courts Trump with Honors as Trade Negotiations Continue
Seoul, South Korea – As Donald Trump concluded a visit to South Korea this week, he was met with a display of high honors while trade negotiations between the US and South Korea remain ongoing, though reportedly progressing slower than anticipated.
Following a meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Lee, a statement was released indicating a deal was “pretty much finalised,” though no specifics were provided. This contrasts with earlier assessments from Oh Hyunjoo, a deputy national security director for South Korea, who stated on monday that negotiations were proceeding “a little bit more slowly” than expected. Key sticking points include “matters such as the structure of investments, their formats and how the profits will be distributed,” she explained.
The situation highlights a difference in approach compared to Japan, where the government has successfully facilitated the $550 billion in investments promised under a previous trade agreement.US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently announced up to $490 billion in specific commitments secured during a business dinner in Tokyo.
Speaking at a business forum prior to Trump’s arrival, Minister Lee cautioned against protectionist policies. “At a time when protectionism and nationalism are on the rise and nations focus on their immediate survival, words like ‘cooperation,’ ‘coexistence’ and ‘inclusive growth’ may sound hollow,” he said. “Yet, paradoxically, it is in times of crisis like this that APEC’s role as a platform for solidarity shines brighter.”
The visit was marked by a series of gifts presented to Trump. He received the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest honor – a first for a US president. Trump remarked on the medal, stating, “It’s as beautiful as it can possibly be” and “I’d like to wear it right now.” He was also presented with a replica of a royal crown from the Silla Kingdom (57 BC – 935 AD), discovered in a tomb in Gyeongju.
Beyond trade, tensions between Washington and Seoul have surfaced this year. In September, a US immigration raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia led to the detention of over 300 South korean workers, prompting outrage in South Korea. Lee expressed concerns at the time that future investments could be jeopardized without improvements to the visa system,stating,”If that’s not possible,then establishing a local factory in the United States will either come with severe disadvantages or become very difficult for our companies.”
Trump addressed the raid, saying, “I was opposed to getting them out,” and indicated openness to an improved visa system to facilitate skilled worker mobility.
During his trip, Trump is also scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday. Both Washington and Beijing have signaled a willingness to de-escalate trade tensions. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that he anticipates lowering tariffs on Chinese goods used in the production of fentanyl, stating, “They’ll be doing what they can do,” and adding, “china is going to be working with me.”
